Toy



1945- M. HERRMANN 2,386,853

I TOY Filed May 1, 1944 2 Sheets-Sheet l II-nnmum 5mm? M. HERRMANN I 2,386,853

TOY

Filed May 1, 1944 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Oct. 16, 1945 UNITE e; srar Es PAT m" or ies Max HerrmZi, Chicago, Ill;

2 Claims.

This invention relates to toys and more particularly to one having a plurality of parts detachably connected together to simulate various figures such as animals, birds orhuman figures and the like.

One of the objects is to provide a toy of the foregoing character which with a comparatively few simple and inexpensively built parts can be detachably assembled'to simulate-a large number of difierent figures, animals, birds andthe like in various positions, grotesque and otherwise.-

Another object is to provide a toy in which the detachable parts can be rotated, turned or otherwise manipulated topractically any angle, plane or position to assume any desired shape.

Other objects will become apparent as this description progresses.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view showing separately the parts of my invention, used in forming the toy figures shown in the following figures of the drawings.

Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the parts of my invention detachably assembled to form the figure of a bird.

Fig. 3 is an assembled view showing a horse.

Fig. 4 is an assembled view showing a giraffe.

Fig. 5 is an assembled view showing a deer in hopping position.

Fig. 6 is an assembled view showing a rabbit, and,

Fig. 7 is an assembled view showing a dog.

In Fig. 1, I show the parts of my invention which are used in assembling the various animal and bird figures illustrated in the drawings. Numerous others not herein shown can likewise be assembled. While I have shown nine separate pieces, it will be readily understood that in assembling some figures, more parts will be necessary, but in such cases, all of such additional parts would merely be duplicates of the parts shown in Fig. 1. This will be more fully explained later. The parts are made preferably of wood, although other material can be used.

One of the parts generally indicated at I isa joint or socket member which is formed of a pair of spaced disc members II and I2 permanently secured to a cross member I3. This provides a peripheral recess I4. The parts which are detachably secured to the socket or joint member can be attached to same at any point around its periphery.

The part I is constructed similar to the joint member I0, except the discs have smaller circumferences. The exposed sides of each disc have painted thereon a representation of an eye and eyebrow, indicated at. FL This can be'used'to iorm the head portion of the figure;

The part generally indicated at I8 is tubularly shaped, that is, it isv round or circular initransverse cross section as at I9 and has its opposite ends bifurcated or slottedas at 20. The exposed ends are dome shaped as at 2 I.

The parts generally indicated at 22 and 23 are constructed similar to part I8, except that they are of different lengths as shown. The part 24, which is used'as a tail or nose piece is somewhat shorter than part 23 and'is not slotted;

The part generally indicated at 25 forms the feet or support members of the figures and is formed of a. disc 26.,havingaslot 2.! extending inwardly from the periphery of the disc. The pieces 28 and 29 are shaped to simulate ear and nose pieces.

As will be seen, the parts I8, 22 and 23, or additional duplicates thereof are used for forming the body member, the legs (one front and one rear) and the neck portion. The parts being interchangeably used depending upon the animal figure constructed. In some instances one or more of these parts may be eliminated and a similarly constructed part, but of a different length used. In the commercial sale of the unit, I include several additional parts like parts I8, 22 and 23, but of diflerent lengths. Likewise two support members like 25 and an additional joint member similar to I0 but of a smaller circumferance is included so as to permit a large variety of figures to be formed. The additional joint member is designated by the numeral 30 in the drawings. The parts necessary to construct various figures will vary from 9 parts shown in Fig. 2, to 10 parts shown in Fig. 6, to 12 parts shown in Figs. 3, 5 and 7 and 13 parts shown in Fig. 4.

The parts are frictionally held and the bifurcate ends tend to hold the parts in a tight fit when assembled so as to retain the positioned shape and yet permit the parts to be readily disassembled.

By virtue of the continuous groove in the pieces I0, {5 and 30, and the tubularly shaped parts I8, 22 and 23, as well as the slotted supports 25, the parts can be turned, twisted, rotated or angled in any position to assume the most grotesque appearance.

While not shown in the drawings, it can be readily seen that the different parts of the figure can be positioned on different vertical as well as different horizontal planes. For illustration, the head portion in Fig. 3 can be turned or rotated on the neck from the position shown in the figure to a position where the head will be turned at right angles (or any other angle) to th vertical plane of the rest .of the body, and the rear portion of the figure can be turned to an opposite or different vertical plane, and so on, until an incalculable number of positions and figures can be produced. This great flexibility of positions enables one to produce the most grotesque figures and provides great interest and entertainment.

It will be understood that various changes and modifications can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of this invention.

What I desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. An animal toy comprising three joint members representing the head, front quarters and rear quarters of an animal, said joint members each being adapted to receive a plurality of radially disposed connecting members, and each being provided with a continuous peripheral groove whereby said connecting members can be disposed at any desired radial angle, connecting members fitting within said grooves and being of circular cross section, whereby the plane of any one of said joint members and its associated connecting members may be twisted with respect to the plane of an adjacent joint member, one of said connecting members representing the body of an animal and the other of said connecting members representing the neck, additional connecting members representing the front and rear legs of an animal and received within the joint members which represent the front and rear quarters respectively of the animal, and'a supporting member in the form of a disk having a slot extending inwardly from its periphery toreceive one of said last mentioned connecting members whereby the longitudinal axis of the connecting member received thereby may be angularly adjusted with respect to the plane of said support to lie in the plane of its associated joint member.

2. An animal toy comprising three joint members representing the head, front quarters and rear quarters of an animal, said joint members each being adapted to receive a plurality 'of radially disposed connecting members, and each bein provided with a continuous peripheral groove whereby said connecting members can be disposed at any desired radial angle, connecting members having slotted end fitting wtihin said grooves and resiliently engaging the walls thereof, and being of circular cross section, whereby the plane of any one of said joint members and its associated connecting members may be twisted with respect to the plane of an adjacent joint member, one of said connecting members representing the body of an animal and the other of said connecting members representin the neck, additional con necting members representing the front and rear legs of an animal and received within the joint members which represent the front and; rear quarters respectively of the animal, and a supporting member in the form of a disk having a slot extending inwardly from its periphery to receive one of said last mentioned connecting members whereby the longitudinal axis of the connecting member received thereby may be angularly adjusted with respect to the plane of said support to lie in the plane of its associated joint member.

MAX HERRMANN. 

